Hay handling apparatus



arch l, 93-. J. T. MARTIN v 2,109,907

HAY HANDLING APPARATUS v Filed April 27, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l J. T, MARTIN HAY HANDLING APPARATUS March 1, E938.

Filed April 27, 193e' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToR. i .JO/7n 7.' Mar/W7 Patented Mar. 1., 1938 ED?y Si HAYa HANDLING, APJPARATUSl John T5 Martin, near'"Hanover; Kans.-

ApplicationApril 27, 1936;; SeriaIfNo376-,575 zrolaims.:v (creer-'14)' My invention: relates'to hay `handling appara-` tus,.and moreffparticularly to apparatusdorcefcientlyliftingfthe hay from'a yhay rack tofvcarry the sametouaastorage placetsuch' as aibarnf.

Int: storing :i hayzfit h'as .been-)customary tofuse several` diferentf types of slings, one; ofy which isifkn'ownsometimes .as a.: haygnetfa andfwhich is c auslatted: structure,z which: may 1 be @connected by means of ropes, or otheriiexilole:membersl to formaatslattedznettingr` The objection' toa: the slingszofithis type'isvthat they are quite expensive as compared withwhat are known asfropewslings, andurequre much' ,more :time and: labor in-.hanel dlingstheffsame `and.: spreadingio-ut the same; over the"` hay rack before loading: this: rack, n ande are heavy; t Weighing usually;` from thirty` to*n forty pounds; which :requiresl tha-,handling of. theisame in 1i two l parts, which are -hooked together. when placed on'xthe `hay frack ready for: they hay;v toibe placed :onzzthe sling;

Anothentypeis theiropef sling, `which is less eXp'ensivefan-df. much ylighter"v in". weight," weighing usua-'llyponlyv five-f or six pounds, and` isf,I easily handled' andi/,spread 1outi over the rack; the;` sling itself being? all in one part. As: a'result,thef.rope sling;` hasifbeen quite popular; but the-'ropef sling hascmany' defects;r The/present invention relates toi: meansrzfor improving; az rope sling: and;` the apparatus utilized with: a` rope :sling so thatrth'e defects t in the` construction and:E the; rnannerA of releasing the load,A when` this; is, desired; are avoided.

One-vof. the. principal uolojectso oi,I my invention is: to reduce theftimes andi laborrinvolvediniun-f loading a load of hay` Withrth-e `rope-sling;` as utilized-lpriorzto1my invention; a-nchirnfact;A with anyftype of l sling;l considerableunnecessarylabor and loss of; tirneirtakes placeinnmaking ,r the apiparatus ready for hoistingfthehay'off vtherack and tinto the storage: places. Theteamfthat.r has hauled the `hay tofthestorage place von the rack isz'` ordinarilyl utilized. for-hoisting thel hay. To dortherhoistingrthe team isY driven around tton the opposite ^side'of` the Vbarn to that from which the rack isapla'ced,` in order toroperatethe hoisting apparatus.' Inv all! types of` ropev slings known previously tomyf'inventionitis necessary that two rnen` work together in preparing; thezload of hay'on-.asling-ifor hoisting. The rope. slings asfordinarilymtilized; are made. up of three ropes that are supposed to extend parallel Vto each other across the rack withsther ends lhanging downnff the rack so that these are notcoveredpby the hay in loading the rackl However, the, ends very frequently-"becomelost in thehay and' considerable diicultylis experiencedingetting the. ends `of the ropes out of thehayfso that thesecan Vloe coupled tothe hoisting apparatus, which is to be utilized f for hauling the hay into the -barn.

Furthermore vitnis necessary for one manv'to' 10e ont the-loadohayto be in a position that he can seoureythefsling gto,` the hoisting apparatus;` which involves 'f'meansrforftripping the.` same so asl` to releasesthe loadfwhemthisfisdesired The ends ofatheeropes; onf'otherw exible members; `being :in arrfoutfoff .the way p os-itionf where: the man onf-top ofithefloadpf hay lcannotreach them, itis necessary;4 thatrtheeman .whon hasv driven i his n team ofahorsesfaroundzto theotherside of the barn for theepurpose of:hoisting;t vtheloadof hay, assist thermanrwhorisonethe loadqof rhay toty connect up the sling; with Ythe hoistingf-:apparatus,as he must hand theiropes, orrother Aend kportions' of Vthe sling that. areehangingfdownifrom: the rack, to the man ontftopg-fo-lthe load ofhay; on` the rack. Accordn ingly" hea-must 1 either come backafter driving his teannarotmd1to-the v other side of the barn to help; this :man `connect up the. sling withr the y hoisting-5` apparatus; or.; else leavef-hsteamand'.` help with this,A connection tovthe f hoisting apparatus before going around to the other side of the barn. Irr-either:caseflmuchftime isflost and much inefciencyresults; for; if' thefconnection of the slinggtoethe, hoistinggapparatus can be made a onefmanwjobathefmanrdriving the-team can go around -tof` the--othen side Vof i, the,` barn and con-y nect'up .his \team With'the hoisting apparatus while-:ther-manawho vision -the iload of hay is connecting,gupstheeslinggwith his `end of the vhoisting apparatus:

Oneeof ffthe. principal Apurposes of my invention is:` to make itfpossiblenfor-the man on ythe load of hay torconnect up the. sling with the; hoisting apparatusn withoutany; diiliculty whatsoever, and withoutthe-:fneed of; anyI other person to` assist lli-1minwdoing.,this.' In fact, when the secondload ofi-,hay isf hoisted, .it1 beingalways customary to place f;twofloadsvof hay iniavhay rack, one aloove theefother, usings two; slings,` it is necessary for the persona-driving theteamlto; leave his team aroundionthefotherf-sidelof the-barn and come back all the `way to the rack andassist the man ontheload of hay ingetting hislhoisting apparatus connected. withl the` sling that supports theflowerrload of hay, with the apparatus that was invnuse-I prior tomy invention, and then returnrtohis,team.Y This, under ordinary circumstances, wouldmakeait necessary towalk at least threezhundredlfeet, `which is absolutely unnecessary with-my apparatus in order to get the second loadiof hayready for hoisting.

There is not Aonly the advantage in my invention of makingfitlunnecessary to do all this extra walking witha corresponding loss of time, but much tryingY andl unpleasant work is avoided, particularlyk when the ends of the ropes become lostin thefhay, which necessitates hunting for them in the.hay` andwhich is avery unpleasant piece` ofy workcna hot day, particularly when alfalfa is being handled, as the leaves get into the mans shirt sleeves who is hunting for the ends of the ropes, causing much annoyance. Not only is at least two and one-half minutes saved on each of the first loads of hay on a rack, with my improved apparatus, and three and one-half minutes saved on each second load, or lower load, but all the annoyance of hunting for lost ends of slings in the hay is avoided.

Another advantage of my invention, which is of particular importance, is that the hay rack is cleaned better. In the rope slings in use prior to `my invention, particularly in handling prairie and other dry, brittle hay, such as dry,'brittle alfalfa, the apparatus utilized in conjunction with such a sling, which is commonly known as the one point trip causes the sling ropes at the sides of the load to be pulled toward the center at both ends of the load, the sling usually comprising a center rope and two side ropes, said side ropes approaching the center rope at the ends of the sling in the course of hoisting the load, causing the support of the ends of the load to be narrowed down to that portion over and near the center rope, leaving the corners of the load entirely unsupported. As a result, after the load has been lifted oif the rack, the rack is cleaned in a diamond shaped area, the four corners remaining covered with hay. With my improved apparatus the sling ropes extend straight across the rack in parallel relation with a uniform spread from end to end of the load, avoiding this cutting off of the corners of the load, even though the hay may be quite brittle, and making it possible to lift the load by means of the sling into the barn without losing any of it.

Another advantage of my invention is that the load is carried about eighteen inches higher by the conveying apparatus, due to the manner in which the sling is made. In the usual rope slings, the long sling ropes are drawn together at the top by the so-called one point trip, causing the load to hang low after being hoisted to its uppermost position and causing the same to drag over barn door sills and other hay in the barn, particularly when it is nearly full, and the hay when dumped, will lie on the sling ropes. The long ropes leave a loose vacant space where the hay is held loosely, causing some of it to slip out of the sling at times. Due to the fact that with my improved type of sling, the ropes can be made much shorter and pulled up much closer to the conveying apparatus for carrying the hay into the barn, the barn can be lled much higher with hay due to the use of my sling, and the load is held much more securely as it is being carried into the barn.

Another advantage that exists is that a much smaller amount of rope is necessary in each sling than where the sling rope ends hang down from the rack to make them available when it is desired to hand the same up to the person on the load of hay for attaching to the hoisting means.

Another advantage present in my invention is that, with my sling and tripping apparatus, no trip rope is left hanging before the barn door that must be removed before driving before the barn with the load of hay. The tripping apparatus in my improved apparatus is detachable from the hoisting and conveying apparatus and has nothing hanging down from the same that is either in the way or has to be tied up to be out of the way, consuming additional time, as was the case with all previously known apparatus 'of this character.

available, said means for attaching the same comprising means for holding the ends of the ropes, or other flexible members of the sling, in a uniformly spaced relation from each other so that the ropes, or other flexible members, of the sling will be always parallel to each other from end to end of the sling and cannot be misplaced. The separating means at one end of the sling is, preferably, made a part of the sling, and in order to make the sling easily handled and as convenient as any rope sling, as far as flexibility is concerned, I, preferably, make the separating means for the sling that is used to support the upper load so that the same is collapsible, or foldable, whereby the entire sling can be thrown aside just as though it were made entirely of rope, or other flexible members.

Also it is an important feature of my invention that the tripping apparatus, that is, the apparatus for releasing the load of hay after it has reached the desired point in the barn, is utilized as a means for keeping the ends of the ropes comprising one end of the sling in properly spaced relation to each other and in elevated position on the rack, so that the same are always available, and that the same is detachable from the hoisting apparatus so that it is carried by the rack and not by the hoisting apparatus when not in use for hoisting purposes. Furthermore this tripping means is a reversible three point trip, tripping the load at three points simultaneously, that is, releasing all three ropes from the hoisting apparatus at the same time.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the description of the drawings proceeds. I desire to have it understood, however, that I do not intend to limit myself to the particular details shown or described, except as defined in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a hay rack, showing the lower sling mounted in position to receive a load of hay thereon.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the lower load of hay in position and the sling for supporting the upper load of hay in position ready to receive the upper load of hay.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in section, showing a load of hay in elevated position having reached almost the point at which the release is operated, whereby the hoisting of the load is halted and the movement of the hay into the storage space is begun.

Fig. 4 is a view partly in longitudinal section and partly in elevation of the three-point trip utilized in combination with my apparatus.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional View on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a similar view taken substantially on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary end view of the threepoint trip, as viewed from line 'l-l, Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through the left end thereof.

Fig. 9 is a view in side elevation of the separating member carried by one end of the lower sling. yFig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view on a slightly enlarged scale, taken vsudestantiall'y lon the line lfbm of Fig. 9.7 l

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary elevational view of one end of the upper Sling utilied in ini' apparatus, showing the separating nie'ans carried by said end of said sling, and

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary persoactive view, showing the relationship of the holdingieans on the rack to the tripping `riernloer to illustrate the ease with which the sling is connected with the tripping 'member ln my improved apparatus.

Referring in detail to the drawings', niynvention is shown as being applied toi a hayl rok having a bottom I3 andends' I4, may be inade i `of any desired construction, but which, each preferably, have an upright l5,v which extends above the top cross piece of each of saidends. A pin I6 -is provided near the upper end of each `upright I and, at one end of the rack, a pin I'I is provided centrally of the end at a point above the top of the rst load of hay when placed on the rack. A central pin liland side pins I9 are provided on the other end of the rack at asimilar elevation, the same being, preferably, substantially in alignment horizontally. The pins I9 are spaced at a uniform distance from the pin I8 and said three pins are'spaced at a distance from each other, which is equal to' the spacing of the side ropes of the sling froin the center rope of the sling.

My apparatus comprises a lower sling having a central flexible member 2i! and side flexible members 2l, which are each providedfwith means for cooperating with the pins I8` and AI 9, respectively, the same being loops or' rings 22,as shown in the drawings. Thesaidl loops, orrings,` are a permanent part of each flexible niernbrand are engaged with the pins I8` and I9, as shown in `F'ig. l'. "The lower sling furthe? compris'esa 'separating member 23 at the opposite end thereof from the rings, or loops, 22?; the fleiiible members being entirely separate and independent of each other when detached from the lialy'rack; except at the end thereof provided with the separating member 23; Said separating member" 233, which is shown more in detail inFigs. 9i andi 10;l is, preferably, made of a rod, orneavy'wir; and is lbent :Into a triangular form so to havethe diverging legs 2li extending from a central loop' 25; by means of which said separating memberis' se'- cured in elevated position on the end of the rack having the pin I'I thereon by engagement of the loop with said pin.

A cross bar 26 extends transversely' between the diverging legs 2li, andA loops 21 a-re formed at the junction of said cross bar 26 with thediverging legs 24". Substantially in the middle `.ihfs'aid cross bar 26 a coil, or loop, 28is formed1 therein,

which is in substantial alignment withlv the loop 25. The centralv flexible member, o r rope; 2liV of the sling extends through the 1oop2-82 whicha'cts as a guide member therefor" to-lfioldvtl'iesamein proper central position andthe erdtlie'ie'ofv is secured permanently to the loopj 25'; The side members 2l are secured tol the loops, or eyes, ZI, thus providing a uniform spacing;l for thece'ntral flexible member 'L andthe sidelflexiblejrnenibers The spacing of the pins |58 and I9 is such that the side members ZI are spaced fro'rnthe centralmember Zil'thesaniedistance'at theeni of the rack carrying theselpins asat the'eiidf-of the rack with which the separating member" 23 is mounted.V Thus the flexible members 20v and 2l being of properlengths t'o'rea'cnreadily,without undue slack, froml theE separatingfl meinberl- 213 totnef pins rs1 and ls; the' same: wurihl substartialf parallelism throughout theirleng'thi and viilllre'lailso asthefhay isbeihgiloaded on the sl""g', diie? tothe fact: that en ds of the sling are'li-h substantially a fined,l position Furthermore the endsl areelevatedand-i the elevation is suoli that the separating member" 23"l and the loop 22! willl belreadily' aooe'ssible' whenthe? upper lo'ad of" hayisllremoved fromV ther'ack;V

I-ri Fig. the`rafok'is Shown filled.'Y with hay'to the levelI O'fI the t'op of thei rs'tf' load' with the loop`25-'on' the pinv I'I in readilyaccess'iblepos'ition; and-'the ends of the 'ilexibleniembersl I( and Zilfhaving* tne'-loops 22 thereon readily accessible above thelia'yon the' pins Ian'd I9; The'f'hay is'indio'ated-in Fig;I 2" by the numerall 3U;- The upper siingrfor suppbfnngine upper maui-of hay orii the rack comprises the centralexiblemem'- ber 2D" and the side fl'e'xible members 2I,which are tliesame in construction as the flexible'ineinbers previouslym'entionedf.4 However, instead of u i'filizing-ll th'eseparatingmember'iZS'i a different form o`f-sep`arating'member-'is utilie'd: Ther'ea son fo'rthis is'thatin use "the lower sling canE be replaced inlthe'fposition shown i`n-Figi 1- as' soon asialltlenay has been renlo'vedl from-1 the rack a'l'ldl left` there'4 While the hay i's` being loaded, whereas the vupper sling member must be`L thrown aside" until the'frst load ofi hay is inplaee as'anyl of? the ropefslingsno'w in useVZ when it is desired to throw" the same? aside temporarily while loading" thelower loadof hay?, the separat'- ingmember is made collapsible;-l The mounting of the separating'memberl is shown inl detail in Fig.- lil'. The centralflexible member 20 is seciired` atits end,-inthe` case of thepp'er sling', to 4the same ring 22-r to which the ends ofthe side flexible member ZI" are-secured.` The separating Imember` comprises`4 aV pair o'f members and: 321 which? a're loosely connected together by means` of thel inter-engaging" loops- 33, being thusl'ooselyhingedftoieaoliotl'ier.- Thevr ends of the/members Bljand" 312'i that are remote from eachI other are tightly" clamped atA 34' to K the' side flexible members 2 I Thus when theV parts are inftl'ie positionshown in Fig; 11 andin'fFig. Z a rigid triangle isforrnediby'means ofl theflexible menibersZlI and the bar-like members" 3l' and 32, the loops 3 31 beingl so-placed that whenthe bar sv 31'` and 32 are in alignmentfthere will! be only a very slight endwise movement ofL the one looprelative tothe other. However, the,l loops can betswung on each other to move the'bars 3l and 32 into a substantially side by side relation.

The bar 3l isprovided with ay coil, or loop, 35 therein adjacent the end thereof'havin'g the loop jtherein, through which# the flexible member 2U passes, the same being midway between the ends 340i the collapsible separating-member and being" thus in alignment with the loop 22 when the parts are in the operative position shown in Fig; 2j. When thisV is the case, the` separating memberlfunctionsin exactly the same manner as the separating member 23, previously described. When in this position the 10010122 is in engagementwith thepin i6" provided" oni the end of; the raok that has thepin' I'lthereon.

The exible members 29 and 2l" are provided with the"v loops 22 just asf the members 26 and'ZI. Said loops areengagedwith a combined trip and separating member 3l, which is shown more in detailiny Figs. llato 8, inclusive. Said combined trip and separating member comprises a pair of divergingv legsV 38 Atlriefsame being, preferably, made of strap metal and have the angular end portion 4B provided on a central member 4l secured thereto adjacent their junction by means of fastening elements, such as the rivets. 39, so that said central member extends downwardly in bisecting relation to the legs 38. The legs 38 terminate in depending ears M, whichA serve as bearings for a tubular shaft 45, any suitable means, such as collars 46 being provided. for holding the shaft in assembled relation with. the ears M. An opening is also provided at 47 in the member 4| for receiving rotatabljI theshaft 45. A pair of pins 48 are shown extending through the shaft G at the ends thereof outwardly from the ears 44, the same being shown. as being used for holding the collars 66 in place, as well as for another purpose, which will appear presently. A similar pin i9 is also extended through the hollow shaft 45 adjacent the central member Qi. Said pins 48 are longer than the diameter of the collars 46 so as to project upwardly obliquely therefrom when the parts. are in the position shown in Fig. 4, and the same is true of the pin 49, which projects through the shaft l5 so as to project upwardly obliquely therefrom a desired distance, and said pins have their extremities bent into a hook-like shape, as. indicated at |12. Cooperating with the curved hook ends l2 of the pins $8 and 49 are the guard springs 5l) which are carried by the legs 38 at the ears 44, and the member 4l adjacentthe opening lll, said guard springs being secured to the members 38 and 4i in any suitable man-` ner, as by rivets 43. A swivel member 5l hav ing a loop 52 thereon is mounted in the member Si at the junction of the legs 38 and extends through aligning openings in the member- 3l and the angular end 40 of the member l I.

It will be evident that, when the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 4 to 8, inclusive, the loops 22 on the ends of the flexible members 2G' and 2i' may be engaged with the hook ends i2 of the pins 48 and 49 and that while the parts are in such position, the flexible guard members, or springs 50 will prevent accidental disengagement of said loops Z2 from the upstanding hook ends of said pins. The pins 48 and S9 are spaced at substantially the same distance from each other as are the pins i8 and l@ and iid it will be evident that when the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 4 to 8, inclusive, and the loop 52 on the separator member 3l is in engagement with the pin IG on the end of the rack having the pins I8 and I9 thereon, the nexible members 2U and 2|' will be spaced so that the same will lie in a position of substan tial parallelism across the lower load of hay and up the ends of the rack with their ends in elevated position so that the loop 22' on one end of the upper sling and the loop 52 at the other end thereof can be readily reached so that the same can be engaged with the hoisting apparatus when this is desired. It will also be evident upon reference to Fig. 12 that due to the fact that the spacing of the pins 48 and i9 is substantially the same as the pins I8 and l, the flexible members and 2l can be readily engaged with the pins 118 and i9 without difficulty, when this is found to be necessary in preparing the lower load of hay for removal from the rack, as will be explained in detail below.

.After the hay rack has been loaded with two sling-loads of hay, the hay rack is transported to the barn and the two sling-loads of hay are hoisted and transported one after the other into the barn. For this purpose a track 55 is usually provided, upon which a carrier 5G runs on suitable wheels 57. A pulley 58 is mounted on a depending bracket 59 on the carrier and a rope -65 operates over this pulley and over a pulley 53 on said bracket and extends to an eye 5l to -which the end of the rope 60 is fastened. To permit hoisting, the carrier is held in stationary position on the track by any suitable releasable holding means and is held in locking position by means of a spring 64, said means being released by a tripping member 65 when moved to Lact against the compression of the spring S4 'to move the holding means out of holding position. rlhis takes place when the rope 60, or the lload of hay itself, engages the member 65.

Therope 60 also has a pair of pulleys S6 and il thereon, which are provided with hooks 68 :and t9. The hook G9 is engaged with the eye on the separating member 23, or the eye 22 on the sling having the collapsible separator mem- 'ber thereon. In either case the separator member is detached from the rack end and is engaged Ywith the hook 69, the rope 60 at that time be* :ing extended downwardly from the carrier 56 .so that the two pulleys G6 and 61 can be widely separated. The pulley 66 having the hook 68 thereon is pulled over toward the other end of lthe rack and is engaged with the loop 52 on the 'upper end of the member 3l, and after this has vbeen done the rope 60 is pulled by the team of .'horses, or any other suitable means, drawing the pulleys 65 and 6l upwardly and toward each Iother until the same approach almost into engagement, with the load of hay held tightly 'within the sling. When the pulleys reach such a position that the load of hay or the rope 6l) Aengages the releasing member 65 movement of lthe load of hay along the track due to continued pull on the rope 60 begins.

In operation the upper sling is, of course, first .engaged with this hoisting apparatus by engaging the loop 22 and the loop 52 with the hooks 69 and 68, respectively. After this load has been disposed of and the vcombined separating and ytripping member 31 is again ready for use with :another load, it is brought into the position shown infFig. 12 and engaged with the rings, or loops, 22 at the end of the flexible members 2i] and 2l, whereupon the lower load of hay, which is the one shown in Fig. 3, is engaged with the hoisting apparatus by engaging the loop 25 and the loop 52 with the hooks 69 and 68 in the same manner as previously described, this load being drawn up, as previously described, and moving along the track upon engagement of the load, or the rope B, with the releasing member 65.

Means for tripping the combined separating and tripping member, or three-point trip 3l, is provided, which comprises holding means for holding the member 45 from rotating and means for releasing said holding means. The holding means comprises a collar 'l secured to the hollow shaft l5 by means of a pin "ll, said collar having an ear 'l2 projecting therefrom, which is provided with a slot 'I3 therein, and which has a beveled face 'I4 on one of the bifurcations 54 on the ear formed by means of said slot 13.

A latch lever l5 in the form of a bell crank, is provided, which has the latching portion i6 thereof in engagement with the slot 13, said latching portion having the opposed faces thereof extending at an acute angle to each other and having a beveled portion 63 on one side of the same adjacent its apex, the same being pivoted 1511.1 on e lorookei provided on the member 4L Seid loreokei oomlofieioe! oreferolow merely' pair of ears-1B provided onthe member 4i. "The member il iS-eeo provided With e 'large Slot 11S, into which me entire ietcning' enti poi-tion is of the lerer is ooooieo "to Swine'- The @om @D o f said `lever has one end of the spring Slienvgaging'the same, the other end of said springbeing secured et oe io, .one of the legs "eo of the mem.- ber 31, lsaid spring acting to hold `the* locking member i6 normally in the slot 13. A lug @3 is provided on the lever ilfor attachment of Said spring, spaced from the end ofsaid lever having an eye 35 termed thereon for fastening the trip rope 8 4 thereto, said rope being of `any desired lensthiandv'loene of suoh length that'the Seme will .extend into the hay rack, even .when the load of hay traveling along lov `Hierin@ of ,the Carrier 56 is at the most remote point in the barn from theyhay rack. The arm lili of said lever is v`o ifset at 6 2 to permit the same to `swing past .the meme bei' FH, and is so shaped as topermit swinging ofthe same to the two dotted positions shown in Fig. 4, .without engagement yof any Dartthereof with the -lfrlember 4|.

45.111 its bearings, causing the curved hookends of the `pins to move Vout of `cooperative ,relationY with the lguard springs A,50, ,whereupon the ,three l :rings 22 are released from the pins 4 8 and ,44,9,

respectively, andthe load is dumped, such release occurringv simultaneously, or substantially simultaneously. As soon as `it is desired to lock' the holding means back in locking position; all that .is necessary'is .to rotate the shaftllli onpits bearings in a counterrclockwise direction, .as

viewed in Fig; 5, until the inclined shoulder A'M engages .with the beveled .portion '53 on .th'e'under side of the latch portion 15, whereuponthevlatch f willfbe .raised .until .it passes over said inclined face and intohthe slot-1 3, the. spring ,8| normally sling,'however, has to be ,thrown aside while the.

first load ofihay is being placed in positiony and' can be very compactly foldedup vfor this pur-v pose, l if this is` desired.

important `feature of Vthe three .pointntrip' device 31 -is that the same will operate withlthe trip rope 84 extending in either direction there@ from. This is vdesirable due to the factthatthe position of the member .31 has .to ,be reversed whenused with the lower load of hayfrom' that which it has when `used with the upperload of hay. Thuswhen the member 31 is mounted on the rack as shown in Fig. 2 the `pins 48 and 49 project forwardly toward theload of hay andthe opposite end of the rack and upwardly rat ,an oblique angle. When this is the case,.assuming thetrack 5 in Fig. 3 runs away from the person viewing the drawingthe locking member 'iB wili bejonthe side o f the member 31 `whiel'i willbe rearward as the loadmoves alongthe track; The `tripgrope will then extend en .thesame vside o f thememberolil asthe` member 1 0 and thetrip williee .operated-by a pull of'saidrope'to theleft in `Il mpving` the latch 16 downwardly in thefsl t i3 `V-infatil the upper beveled facethereof f th lthfe member ill and said latch lies the slot ifllowever, when the lower load of'hly is'tvfriflz'e engaged with the hoisting 4apparatus, themember Slis placed `in the positiony shdwn iririgiz 'with the pins 4s amiV 49 thereon projectiiiglllpwardly and toward the opposite end of'ther'acli' atan obliqueangle so that Vthe loops can'be Slipped'ov'erthe upstanding hook ends o`f" said pins. When the member 3'? is engaged witli'itsfhlook 6 8 it will, however, be in such pisition" ltdbe reversed, with the locking member-reen .mesme of the member 3i, which will be forward as the load moves along the track 5 5, 1)sho'vvninFig. 4 3."Thetrip rope will then extend ori theepposite side of the member di from the member', 'and the trip will be operated by a pull on the rope to theright in Fig. i, moving thelat'ch 76 upwardly .in the slot 'i3 until the lower v.beveled face thereof is flush with the member 51| .and ysaid latch lies in the slot 19.

The `combination with a hay rack, of a sling compring'a ,c 'e'ntral Vflexilzxle member and side ein ers', said'flexible members extend- L yof sad'raCk, 'and' cooperating 1d ra' k'arid sling for'securing'both means' 'on ei'i'd's of"fsa1d fsling on `said rack in an elevatedV position," said I'nearis holding said `side flexible members `vin' aip'ledeterlnifined spaced non-convergihg' relatiorl from lthe central flexible member adjanttlfife end` `s`thereof, to `forma basket-like hajfsuiiport'having' upwardly extending wide end portiossupported n said 'rack'.

Y2. Y 'Il'ie combination with ahay rack, of a sling comp isjingaeentral flexible memberand side flexible ,Ymembersfsaid flexible members extending lengthwise of said rack, and cooperating njfeansli' sai'd rack 'and sling for securing both ends of 1d sling Aonfs'faid rack in Aan elevated position, ffid means. oirlprisi'rig V,an elongated separating ',rnenbr" lt usldin'g""said side Iflexible members' in".a predetermined spaced relation fr'mftheffcentral ,flexible member ,adjacent the eriolfs-t`l'1er.eof,A and beiri'gprovided with means adjacent',th l'endsfof fand b'eftween the ends of said sfeparatingrninberfor detachably receiving said iexibleriie'rbersl .3L The com mation with a Yhay rack, of a sling comprisingfll central flexible member and side ebers "eenheid-bie members extends`e oislaid rack, andfmeansjfor securing' oth ndswof aid'sling ton' said rack in an a nd .holding said vside flexible members .1n th'sarie predeterminedspaced relation frorflthe' efntralflexible member adjacent b'th" ends o`i` 'sa sling', saidmeans comprising a c'nftrlalpir Qnaniend o flsaid 'rack and pins on if ""IldDaeda pfedetermineddistanee to `each siii V(if vaid centra'lfpin land an elongated spacing memberat the etnerindof .saidraekx LThe ,1Com inationlwithahayrack, of a sling comprising 4'afcentral flexible 'member and side flexiblem'eniberws, said flexible members extending lengthwifse`- of said ,'rack, .and means for securing both ,ofsaid lsling onsaidrack in an elevated position and holding said side flexible members in a predetermined spaced relation from the central `flexible,, Iriernber adjacent the ends thereof, said vnfieans comprising an l elongated separating member at each end `of `said sling, `ene of said separating l,members having means adjacent the ends thereof fondetachablly receiving said side flexible members andnieans between the ends of said separating m-ember for detachably receiving said central flexible member, and cooperating means on said separating members and said rack for detachably supporting said separating members on said rack in an, elevated position.

5. The combination with a hay rack, of a sling comprising a central flexible member and side flexible members, said flexible members extending lengthwise of said rack, and means for securing both ends of said sling on said rack in an elevated position and holding said side flexible members in a predetermined spaced relation from the central flexible member adjacent the ends thereof, said means comprising a separating m-ember, said separating member being provided with means adjacent the ends thereof and between the ends thereof for detachably receiving said flexible members.

6. The combination with a hay rack, of a sling comprising a central flexible member and side flexible members, said flexible members extending lengthwise of said rack, and means for securing both ends of said sling on said rack in an elevated position and holding said side flexible members in a predetermined spaced relation from the central flexible member adjacent the ends thereof, said means comprising an elongated separating member detachably mounted on said rack in an elevated position and provided with means adjacent the ends of and between the ends of said separating member for detachably receiving said flexible members, said separating member comprising tripping means for simultaneously releasing all said flexible members from said separating member.

7. The combination with a hay rack, of a sling comprising a plurality of flexible members extending lengthwise of said rack and means for securing both ends of said sling in a fixed elevated position on said rack, said means com,- prising a separating member elongated transversely of said sling and carried by said sling to Widely space said flexible members adjacent one end thereof, said separating member detachably engaging said rack and means on each of said flexible members at the other end thereof engaging widely transversely spaced cooperating means on said rack to space said flexible members at the other end thereof substantially the same distance from each other as at said one end.

8. The combination with a hay rack, of a sling comprising a plurality of flexible members extending lengthwise of said rack and means for securing both ends of said sling in a fixed elevated position on said rack, said means comprising a separating member elongated transversely of said sling and carried by said sling to space widely said flexible members transversely of said sling adjacent one end thereof, said separating member detachably engaging said rack and means on each of said flexible members at the other end thereof engaging spaced cooperating means on said rack to space said flexible members at the other end thereof substantially the same distance from each other as at said one end, said means on said rack comprising a plurality of pins spaced transversely of said rack between the top and bottom thereof.

9. The combination with a hay rack, of a sling comprising a plurality of flexible members extending lengthwise of said rack and means for securing both ends of said sling in a fixed elevated position on said rack in widely transversely spaced relation, said means comprising a separating member carried by said sling and elongated transversely of said sling to space 'said flexible members adjacent one end thereof, said separating member detachably engaging said rack and means on each of said flexible members at the other end thereof engaging spaced cooperating means on said rack to space said flexible members at the other end thereof, said means on said rack comprising a hanger member elongated transversely of said sling detachably engaging said rack and having tripping means thereon for simultaneously releasing all said flexible mem,- bers from said hanger member.

10. A hay sling of the character described, comprising a central flexible member and side flexible members, a member spacing said side memb-ers from said central member adjacent the one end of said central member, said side flexible members being entirely free of said central ilexible member and from each other from' the other end of said central flexible member to said spacing member, said spacing member comprising a triangular frame elongated transversely of said sling and having said central flexible member bisecting the length thereof and secured to one apex thereof and the side flexible members secured to the apexes thereof at opposite ends of the long side thereof.

1l. A hay sling of the character described, comprising a central flexible member and side flexible members, a member spacing said side members from said central member adjacent the one end of said central member, said side flexible members being entirely free of said central flexible member and from each other from the other end of said central flexible member to said spacing member, said spacing member comprising a triangular frame elongated transversely of said sling and having a central flexible member bisecting the length thereof and secured to one apex thereof and the side flexible members secured to the apexes thereof at opposite ends of the long side thereof, said long side having guiding means for said central flexible member intermediate said last mentioned apexes.

12. A hay sling of the character described, comprising a central flexible member and side flexible members, a member spacing said side members from said central member adjacent the one end of said central member, said side flexible members being entirely free of said central flexible member and from each other from the other end of said central flexible member to said spacing member, said spacing member comprising a pair of bars movably connected together and having means for receiving said side flexible members at the remote ends thereof and one thereof having means for receiving said central flexible member adjacent the connection between the same.

13. The combination with a hay rack, of a sling comprising a central flexible member and side flexible members, said flexible members extending lengthwise of said rack, and means for securing both ends of said sling detachably on said rack in an elevated position and holding said side flexible members in a predetermined spaced relation from the central flexible member adjacent the ends thereof, said means comprising a separating member elongated transversely of said sling and provided with means adjacent the ends of and between the ends thereof for detachably receiving said flexible members, said separating member comprising a hanger member detachably mounted on said rack and having diverging legs, a shaft rotatably mounted therein, spaced pins projecting therefrom, guard members xed on said hanger member, means for holding said shaft against rotation with said guard members in cooperative relation to said pins, means on said flexible members engaging said pins and means for releasing said holding means topermit said shaft to rotate to move said pins away from said guard means to simultaneously release said iiexible members from said separating member.

14. In a device of the character described, a frame member, a member mounted for rotation therein having a plurality of pins projecting therefrom, guard means adapted to cooperate with said pins and means for holding said rotatable member in a position such that said pins are in cooperative relation with said guard means, comprising a locking member ixed on said rotatable member, a latch mounted on said frame member, means for normally holding said latch in locking engagement with said locking member and means for moving said latch out of engagement with said locking member, said latch being movable in either of two opposed directions from locking to unlocking position.

15. In a device of the character described, a frame member, a member mounted for rotation therein having a plurality of pins projecting therefrom, resilient guard means adapted to cooperate with said pins and means for holding said rotatable member in a position such that said pins are in cooperative relation with said guard means, comprising a locking member fixed on said rotatable member, a latch mounted on said frame member, means for normally holding said latch in locking engagement with said locking member and means for moving said latch out of engagement with said locking member, said latch being movable in either of two opposed directions from locking to unlocking position.

16. In a device of the character described, a frame member, a member mounted for rotation therein having a plurality of pins having hooklike curved ends projecting therefrom, a resilient guard member adapted to cooperate with each of said pins and means for holding said rotatable member in a position such that said pins are in cooperative relation with said guard means, comprising a locking member fixed on said rotatable member, a latch mounted on said frame member, means for normally holding said latch in locking engagement with said locking member and means for moving said latch out of engagement with said locking member, said latch being movable in either of two opposed directions from locking to unlocking position.

17. In a device of the character described, a frame member,a member mounted for rotation therein having a plurality of pins projecting therefrom, guard means adapted to cooperate with said pins and means for holding said rotatable member in a position such that said pins are in cooperative relation with said guard means, comprising a locking member fixed on said rotatable member, a latch pivotally mounted on said frame member to swing into and out of locking engagement with said locking member, resilient means for holding said latch member in an intermediate locking position, and means for swinging said latch member in either direction from said locking position against the action of said resilient means to disengage the same from said locking means.

18. In a device of the character described, a frame member, a member mounted for rotation therein having a plurality of pins projecting therefrom, guard means adapted to cooperate with said pins and means for holding said rotatable member in a position such that said pins are in cooperative relation with said guard means, comprising a locking mem-ber iixed on said rotatable member, a latch pivotally mounted on said frame member to swing into and out of locking engagement with said locking member, resilient means for holding said latch member in an intermediate locking position, and means for swinging said latch member in either direction from said locking position against the action of said resilient means to disengage the same from said locking means, said latch and locking member having cam faces engageable to move said latch into locking engagement with said locking member upon rotation of said rotatable member in a predetermined direction.

19. The combination with a hay rack, of a sling comprising a plurality of flexible members extending lengthwise of said rack and means for securing both ends of said sling in a fixed elevated position on said rack, said means comprising a separating member carried by said sling and spacing said flexible members adjacent one end thereof, said separating member detachably engaging said rack and means on each of said flexible members at the other end thereof engaging spaced cooperating means on said rack to space said flexible members at the other end thereof, said means on said rack comprising a hanger member having tripping means thereon for simultaneously releasing all said flexible members from said hanger member, and having a swiveled member thereon for securing the same to a support.

20. In a device of the character described, a frame member, a member mounted for rotation therein having a plurality of projecting members extending therefrom, guard means adapted to cooperate with said projecting members and means for holding said rotatable member in a position such that said projecting members are in cooperative relation with said guard means, comprising a locking member xed on said rotatable member, a latch mounted on said frame member, means for normally holding said .latch in locking engagement with said locking member, means for moving said latch out of engagement with said locking member, said latch being movable in either of two opposed directions from locking to unlocking position, and a swivel for securing said frame to a support.

21. In a device of the character described, a frame member, a member mounted for rotation therein having a plurality of projecting members extending therefrom, guard means adapted to cooperate with said projecting members and means for holding said rotatable member in a position such that said projecting members are in cooperative relation with said guard means, comprising a locking member xed on said rotatable member, a latch mounted on said frame member, means for normally holding said latch in locking engagement with said locking member, means for moving said latch out of engagement with said locking member, said latch being movable in either of two opposed directions from locking to unlocking position, and means for mounting said frame on a supporting member to permit the reversal of the position of said hanger relative to said supporting member.

JOI-IN T. MARTIN. 

